This course teaches strategies for planning a business. It deals with four core bodies of knowledge an entrepreneur must have to operate a sustainable business: success planning, market planning, cash flow planning, and operations planning. Participants will develop a clear understanding of the responsibility required both personally and professionally of entrepreneurs, the marketplace and how it works, management of cash, and business operations. Learn more about Core Four — Business Planning Course.

Disaster brings several situations to mind—loss of life, injury, flood, fire, fraud, relocation, loss of documents... What should come to mind is prevention. Join panel experts and learn the best practices for disaster prevention for your business. Learn more about Disaster Preparedness for Business.

This program helps you discover "what matters most" in effective leadership. Build on existing strengths, recognize positive qualities and potential, advance beyond ordinary knowledge and skills, increase inner strengths at a faster rate, develop attitudes and habits that place you at the top, practice skills that produce concrete benefits. Learn more about Effective Organizational Leadership.

This self-improvement course for business owners, managers, and supervisors will help you create a high-performance organization. Topics include: communication, goal setting, dealing with interruptions, increasing productivity, controlling priorities, evaluating attitudes, and making productive behavioral changes. This 12-hour program is taught by an experienced professional trainer. Learn more about the Effective Personal Productivity Workshop.

Succession planning session is important for every business. Expert panelists discuss a variety of topics including the role of philanthropy in planning, PA inheritance tax - qualified family owned business exemption, role of trust in succession planning, and critical elements of succession planning. Following the panel discussion is a Q & A session for participants and panelists. Learn more about the Family Business Planning Session.

The Center for Family Business offers an estate planning seminar with panelists. Guest panelists vary at each seminar. Discussion topics include wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, long term care insurance, charitable contributions, taxes, Pennsylvania inheritance tax, and much more. For more information or to request this seminar be offered in your area, call (724) 357-2323 or e-mail center-familybusiness@iup.edu. Learn more about Estate Planning seminars.

The Eberly College of Business and Information Technology, with the Center for Family Business, offers a Mini MBA Certificate Program customized for small businesses. Taught by IUP faculty, this 60-hour program provides cutting-edge theories and strategies and the latest terminology, and includes team-building and problem-solving skills that will help your managerial staff become more effective. Sample topics include: finance, marketing, legal environment, e-commerce, communications, management, and more. Learn more about the Mini MBA Certificate Program.

Inaugural Mini MBA Certificate Program for Small Businesses

According to Ruddock, more than 80 percent of America’s workforce is employed by family-owned businesses. “These businesses need support to grow and continue to provide jobs to our region,” she said. “This certificate program is an excellent resource for small business owners, family business members, managers, and the next generation of leadership preparing for succession in the company. This program is designed as an affordable opportunity for small business owners to educate their key people on best practices and management skills.”

“The program has been comprehensive and current,” Mark Zilner, vice president of Diamond Pharmacy Services, said. “It’s tough to schedule with other responsibilities and travel, but very worthwhile.” Several members of the Diamond Pharmacy Services management team completed the program, including Gib Zilner, vice president and co-owner.